Breath of Scandal(162)

Neal snickered. "Whatever the statute of limitations is, it must have expired by now."

"In which case, I would file a civil suit against you. And I would, if you pushed me to it, no matter what scandal it might raise. You see, Neal, I didn't believe it was possible to send you to prison for what you did, simply because I didn't want to expose Graham to the truth. Now that you've forced me to reveal it to him, that's no longer a deterrent. Go near him once more," she threatened coldly, "and you go to jail for rape."

"It would be your word against mine," he sneered. "You could never prove it."

Jade opened her handbag and withdrew a videotape. She held it up to them. "This has been in my safe ever since I came back to Palmetto. There's a copy of it in a safe deposit box here in Palmetto and another in a bank in New York,



452



Sandra Brown



which only my attorney has access to. It's painful to watch. I hope I'll never have to use it, but don't think for a minute that I won't if you force me to."

Neal applauded drolly. "Good act, Jade. I'm shaking in my shoes with anticipation. What's on the tape?" "Lamar. "

Myrajane gave a soft, injured cry

"He recorded it a few days before he died. At Lamar's request, his companion sent it to me after his death. It's self-explanatory, but, to paraphrase, he's full of remorse for what he, along with Hutch and you, did to me. He confesses to his crime-your crime, Neal.

"As a dying man, he begs my forgiveness and fears for his immortal soul. He claims that night haunted him for the remainder of his life. It's extremely effective. No one who sees it could doubt that he's telling the truth."

She set the videotape on the coffee table and turned to Myrajane. "What they've done to you today is characteristically reprehensible. They used you. You need never have known about this.

"But even though you do, you won't lay claim to Graham because you didn't even love the son you had, Mrs. Griffith. You made Lamar weak and timid and easily manipulated, just as he was on the night Neal suggested that they take turns raping me. Tliat's why I don't feel bad for buying your family's estate for my company. It will be fully restored and occupied, but not by a Cowan."

Myrajane's wizened face was puckered up like a drawstring purse. "Breeding tells," she said waspishly.

"I pray not, Mrs. Griffith. Not in my son's case anyway," Jade said softly.

Turning her back to the woman, she regarded Ivan, who sat wheezing in his wheelchair, his dignity and power as ravaged as his body. She dismissed him as unworthy of comment, which was the greatest insult she could hand him.

Looking at Neal, she said, -CWm my son and you'll go to prison, Neal. Mess with me again, and I'll file a civil suit against you for what you did to me, and to Gary. Your



Breath of Scandal



453



crime will finally come to light and you'll be punished for it. I advise you to cut your losses now.

"When I came back to Palmetto, I planned on sending you to prison, and I could have. With this tape, I could have. But in the last few months I've realized that there are other things more important than punishing you . . . and far more rewarding. I have a new life, a new love, and my son. They are at the center of my world now, not vengeance. From here on, I want to look ahead, not back.

"For fifteen years, my life has been focused on you." She said the last word with a contemptuous smirk. "You're not worth another second's thought. You're finished, and that's enough. It's over."

"The hell it is. I'm not afraid of your threats. You don't scare me, bitch."

"Oh yes I do, Neal," she caln-dy replied. "I'm your worst nightmare-someone who has absolutely no fear of you. "

She took one last look at them, then turned and walked from the room. She moved down the hallway of the house, where the first signs of decay and decline were subtle, but undeniably there. The Patchetts had seen their day.

And Jade had had hers.

As she emerged from the house, she smiled at Dillon and Graham, who were impatiently waiting for her beside the pickup. Graham ran to her, obviously concerned. Knowing the truth hadn't affected his love for her. Now that the facts of his conception had been brought to light, she was relieved of the burdensome secret.

"Mom, what happened?"

"I told them that if they bothered you again, they would be sorry. "

"That's all?" he asked, somewhat disappointed. "Essentially."

He looked at her with consternation. "You should've told me about it."

"Perhaps I should have, Graham." "Didn't you think I'd understand?"



454



Sandra Brown

"It wasn't that. I was trying to protect you. I didn't want you to think any less of yourself because of what your father did-whoever he was."

"Dillon says I'm my own person. I don't need to know which one of them fathered me."

"You're Graham Sperry," she said emotionally, touching his cheek. "That's all the certainty I need."

"Me, too. "

"And just so you'll know, I went to see Hutch before he died. Rather than asking you to be an organ donor, he refused even to consider it. You shouldn't feel any guilt over that."